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Scientists have figured out the ultimate United States road trip. Here it is

If you've ever dreamt of taking a trip though the United States...

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Randal Olson / Google Maps

Scientists have figured out the ultimate United States road trip. Here it is

By Angela Brown

May 24, 2017

Have you ever dreamed about taking a trip through all 50 states? It may sound impossible, but it doesn't have to be. Randal Olson used a mathematical equation to figure out the most optimal route that would allow travelers to hit every state (at least the 48 contiguous states) in the shortest amount of time.

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The rules were simple: All 48 contiguous states must be visited, stops are only allowed at National sites (parks, monuments etc.) and the entire car trip must stay within the confines of the U.S. borders. "The result was an epic itinerary with a mix of inner city exploration, must-see historical sites, and beautiful natural landscapes. All that was left was to figure out the path that would minimize our time spent driving and maximize our time spent enjoying the landmarks," Olson wrote on his blog.

Using a lot of numbers and a bit of complicated math, Olson came up with this layout. The route, with clear roads and perfect weather, would take about 224 hours (more than 9 days) of driving time, but you can start at any point on the route and work from there. The trip itself would likely take 2-3 months.

If you want to plan your own trip, check out Route XL which lets you put in your address, any stops you want to make and fuel stops. The program spits out the most efficient route so you can save hours of planning time and hours in the car!